Electric display device



Oct. 20, 1931. M. E. CURTISS 1,828,177

ELECTRIC DISPLAY DEVICE Filed NOV. 11, 1929 v 11. Pm ZZZ. uuuuuxn j a 5I i q A 4:69 i 2 i E 10 A B c 10 z B 1 l I h no volt A.C. Line INVENTORPatented Oct. 20, 1931 UNITED STATES MERRITT E. GURTISS, 0F PITTSBURGH,PENNSYLVANIA ELECTRIC DISPLAY DEVICE Application filed November 11,1929. Serial 110,406,231.

The present invention relates to an electric display box.

The object of the invention is to provide a display box, and a posterassociated therewith, so constructed and arranged that the effect ofmovement is imparted to a feature or features of a human or animal faceshown on the poster.

A further object of the invention is to provide simple and inexpensivemeans for securing such effect of motion.

In the accompanying drawings Figure I is an isometric view showing adisplay box made in accordance with the present invention; Figure II isa vertical sectional View through the display box, looking toward theposter from the rear, and showing the positioning of light sourcestherein; Figure III e is a cross sectional view through the light box;and F igure IV is a cross sectional detail of a translucent figure orwindow which is to be illuminated, taken on line IVIV, Figure I.

In the drawings reference numeral 1 designates the light box as a whole,and reference numeral 2 the poster forming the front of the light box.In the specific arrangement illustrated in Figure I of the drawings, theposter 2 carries the representation 3 of a human face, both of the eyes4 of which are arranged, and are illuminated in such manner, as toimpart the effect of motion thereto.

As shown in Figures I and IV of the drawings, each of the eyes comprisesan opaque iris 5, which may be the original material of the posterremaining after cutting out the sclera 6 on one or both sides of theiris. The pupil 7 may be cut away, or may be allowed to remain opaque,as desired. Against the rearward face of the poster 2 and covering thewindow produced by cutting away the sclera 6 is a layer 8 of mica orother suitable glistening translucent material. Upon this material islaid a sheet 9 of less translucent material such as paper. This layer 9may be delicately colored to give the appropriate color effect I to thesclera 6 of the eye.

WVithin the box 1, and disposed rearwardly ofthe poster 2, are aplurality of intermittent light sources, such as electriclam ps A. B,and 0 set in interrupter sockets 10, and receiving currentfrom a circuit11.

reference to Figures II and III of the drawings, it will be seen thatthe light sources are disposed angularly with reference to each of thetranslucent windows represented by portions of the eyes 4:. Thus thelight source A is disposed below andslightly to one side of the eyes 4:,the light source B is disposed below and to the other side of the eyes4, and the light source C is disposed further below the eyes 4. Both theeyes as shown, will be illuminated equally by the light source B andunequally by the light sources A and C.

If light impinges upon the eyes 4 from all three sources simultaneously,and the light sources be all simultaneously intermittent, a winkingeflect is produced. If, however, the

interrupter sockets 10 be so selected as toprovide illuminationsuccessively, an effect of rolling the eyes will be produced. Thus ifthe sequential illumination is from source A, then source B, and thensource C, one or two sources only providing illumination at any instantthe effect will be the rolling of the eyes in one direction. If thesequence be re versed the efiect will be the rolling ofthe eyes in theother direction. I It will be readily understood that the angularposition of the light sources contributes to this effect of movement.

If the eye of an animal, rather than a human eye, is to be apparentlyenergized, the cut away portion may be of the iris rather than thesclera of the eye. Thus either the pupil or the entire iris of the eyein a pic ture of a member of the cat family may be cutout andintermittently illuminated in the same manner. mouth of a human being oranimal isto be If another feature such as the apparently energized, theretention of an opaque portion such as the lips in conjunction withtranslucent teeth will, because of the intermittent illumination, givethe effect of opening and closing the mouth. Desirable comedy effectsmay be obtained in the same manner by means of the association ofintermittent light sources with a human or animal nose, part of which isrendered translucent.

In any case the angular positioning of the light is im ortant, in thatit contributes to the efiqlet '0 movement, and renders such aparentmovement more natural;

What I claim is:

1. In a display device the combination of a poster comprising therepresentation of a face having a portion of a feature thereof of opaquematerial and a portion thereof represented by translucent material, witha plurality of intermittent sources of light disposed rearwardly of saidposter and at an angle to the feature com rising the translucentmaterial, whereby t e intermittent il- 25 lamination provided by theseveral light sources imparts the effect of movement to the feature.

, In a display device the combination of a generally opaque postercomprising the representation of an eye having at least a portiqn of theeye ball represented by translucent material, with an intermittent lightsource disposed rearwardly of said poster and lying wholly behind theopaque body of the poster out of alignment with the representation ofthe eye.

'3, In a display device the combination of a;generally opaque postercomprising the representation of a face having therein a it feature withat least a portion thereof repr ted by translucent material, with aninterinittent light source disposed rearwardly of-said poster and spaceda substantial distancefrom any line extending through the & translucentportion perpendicular to the plane of the poster.

4. In a display device the combination of :1V generally opaque postercomprising the representation of a face having at least a portion of onefeature thereof represented by translucent material, with anintermittent source of light disposed rearwardly of said poster andlying wholly behind the opaque body of the poster out of alignment withthe feature comprising the translucent material. 5. In a display devicethe combination of a,poster comprising the representation of a facehaving at least a portion of the feature w thereof represented bytranslucent material withaplurality of intermittent sources of lightdisposed rearwardly of said poster and at i, angle to the featurecomprising the translucent material, the various light sources ibe ngarranged to provide illumination at A ldifl'grent intervals.

my hand.

MERRITT E. CURTISS.

